Fodder compress and binder



2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

J. 1.;ASHBAUGH. FODDER GOMPRESS AND BINDER.

Patented July 28, 1896.

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(No Model 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. 1. ASHBAUGH.

PODDER GOMPRESS AND BINDER.

o. 564,910. Patented July 28,1896.

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' UNITED STATES 4 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN I. ASHBAUGH, or RICHMOND, KENTUCKY.

FODDER COMPRESS AND BINDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,910, dated July 28, 1896.

Application filed May 15, 1895. Serial No- 549397. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN I. ASHBAUGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of Madison and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fodder Oompresses and Binders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved fodder compress and binder, having for its object the compressing and binding of corn-fodder into bundles while in the field and still in its green condition in the shock, the machine being likewise adapted for bundling other products after they are first cut.

The invention therefore consists, essentially, in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved fodder compress and binder. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the compressing mechanism. Fig. i is a partial sectional side elevation on an enlarged scale and showing numerous details. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of one of the rope-winding drums and its ratchet-wheel and shows said drum grooved to allow a chain instead of rope to be used therewith. Fig. 6 is a partial side view of a modified form of the machine.

- Similar letters of reference denote like parts throughout the different figures of the drawings.

The frame of my improved machine is adapted to be situated in an inclined position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, andconnected to the rear end of a wagon, which may be employed to transport the fodder-bundles from the field. This frame, while it may vary in shape and construction within wide limits, preferably consists, essentially, of the parallel longitudinal inclined side beams A A, the lower ends of which rest on the ground and the upper ends of which are furnished with the clevises a for attachment to the hooks or other devices a, placed in the rear end of the wagon-body for the purpose. (See Fig. 1.)

These side beamsA are connected together by means of the lower horizontal platform B, which rests upon the top of the beams A and the upper horizontal platform 0, which is situated below the beams A, both of said platforms being secured in place by means of bolts passing through the beams, and both being for the operators of the machine to stand upon during the use thereof, it being noted that the said platforms are horizontal, although the beams A are inclined. The beams A are also connected by means of a cross-piece 12, secured to the under side thereof and projecting beyond the beams at each end to. furnish supports for the movable bars or standards D D, which are pivoted to the outer faces of beams A, and are adapted to be folded downiso as to rest on the ends of the bar b when they are not in use, as shown in Fig. 2.

Between the two platforms B and G the compressing and binding'machinery is arranged. I will now proceed to explain its construction and operation. v

. On the beams A nearthe lower platform B are secured the rigid standards F F, which are preferably at rightangles to beams A and are parallel to'each other, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. These standards are slotted at f.

a G G denote two parallel plates or shoes, curved on their bottom edges, which are located a convenient distance apart, say about the'same distance as between the beams A A, and'are connected at their ends by the rods g g, and centrally by the rod H, which latter rod is securely fastened in short standards rising from the central portions of these plates G. This structure is braced by means of the diagonal rods hh, fastened to the upper rod H nearits middle point, and to the rods g 9 near their ends. (See Fig. 3.) Furthermore, this structure is movably connected to the stationary standards F F by having one of the rods g placed in the slots f, so that thus the said rod g will act as a pivot or hinge for this whole structure, enabling the latter to be adjusted vertically and also to be swung over from one sideof the standards FFto the other side, and back again, when desired. At each end of the central rod His a drum J, which is loose and revoluble on said rod, and to each drum J is attached a ratchet-wheel I. The rod H therefore has the function of an axle for the drums J J. On the inner faces of the shoe-plates G G are pivoted the pawls M M, that engage the ratchets I I and prevent reverse movement of the drums when the ropes are being Wound thereon.

L L denote levers that are fulcrumed at their lower ends upon the axle H alongside of the ratchet-wheels I I, and are provided with pawls l, that engage ratchets I. By manipulating the levers L L the ratohets I and drums J may be rotated. Each drum J is provided with a rope K, one end of which is attached thereto by means of the perforated plate a, or some other suitable device, (see Fig. 5,) and the other end of which, after the rope is passed around the shock, is attached to the lug or hook (Z, located adjacent to the plate 11.

Near the upper end of the inclined frame I.

shock, where the binding operation may be 1 repeated, as before.

is a spool or drum E, filled with a suitable binding-wire. The ends 6 e of this wire are brought down alongside of the beams AA, passing through guides e e until they reach Q a point near the platform B, where they are temporarily twisted about the pins 0 o, to retain them until the time arrives to wind the wire about the fodder bundles. They are then disengaged from the pins 0 and the wires are carried about the bundle of fodder to secure the latter in its compressed condition.

I will now explain the operation of my improved compressing and binding apparatus.

The compressing mechanism is first lifted from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and turned on the rod g in the slotted standards F F until the said mechanism is. reversed in position and caused to rest upon the platform B. While the compressing mechanism re mains in this position the mass of corn-fodder or other material which it is desired to compress into an easily-handled bundle is deposited transversely upon the frame A A, close by the standards F F, and the movable standards D D are brought up into the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. 1 and caused to pack the fodder as closely as possible against the standards F. The compressing mechanism is then shifted over again into operative position, as it is shown in Figs. 1 and 4, and allowed to rest upon the top of the bundle thus formed. The ropes or cords K, which are attached to the drums J, as I have described, are then passed around the ends of the fodder-bundle and attached to the lugs or pins 61 on the respective drums J. A simple device is shown in Fig. 4 for holding the rope K in position below the fodder, said device consisting of a spring P, having eyes at each end through which the rope passes and being held in the staples p p on the side of beams A. After the ropes have been fixed in position the operator will work the levers L L back and forth, thereby rotating the drums J J and drawing the ropes K closely about the fodder, compressing the latter into a tight bundle, causing the curved shoes G G to press tightly down upon the fodder, and

' lugs d. can be pushed aboutlike a wheelbarrow. 0n one side is the wire-receiving pulley 01.

thereby preparing the compressed shock to receive the binding -wires. It will be observed that the drums J are rotatable independently, and hence one end of the bundle can be compressed more tightly than the other, if desired. After the desired compression has been effected the wires e e are cut to the requisite length upon the projecting cutter O on the side of one of the plates G or by any other suitable means, and they are then passed around the fodder-bundle and the ends twisted together and the bundle thus tightly secured. The compressing mechanism can then be released by disengaging the pawls M M, loosening and then detaching the ropes K, and then shifting the said compressing mechanism over onto the platform B.

, The bundle can now be rolled up onto the wagon and the latter driven on to the next In Fig. 6 I have shown a modified form of the machine-frame, the same having the side beams A provided at the ends with the short This frame has the wheels A and Numerous changes may be made in many of the parts of my apparatus, and they may f be difierently arranged and applied without departing from my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters.

Patent, is-

1. In a fodder-compressor, the frame having the inclined sides and horizontal platforms and adapted to be supported at one end by a wagon-body, in combination with the compressing mechanism on said frame.

2. In a compressor and hinder, the combination of the inclined frame adapted to be supported at one end of a wagon-body and provided with fastening devices for making connection with the wagon-body, the stationary standards secured to the frame, the movable standards also attached to the frame, and the compressing mechanism movably mounted in the stationary standards, substantially as described.

3. In a compressor and binder, the c0mb i nation of the frame having stationary standards secured thereto, and the compressing mechanism movably mounted in said standards adapted to move at right angles to said frame, and consisting of the shoe-plate frame carrying an axle-rod, drums on said axle, means for rotating the drums, and cords attached to the drums and passing around the fodder to be compressed, substantially as described.

4:- In a compressor and binder, the combif nation of the frame, having stationary standards secured thereto and the vertically-movable and hinged compressing mechanism, supported in said standards and adapted to move at right angles to said frame and comprising a frame having parallel shoe-plates connected by rods, one of which serves as an axle, drums on said axle, ratchet-wheels attached to the drums, pawl-carrying levers for operating the ratchets, and cords attached to the drums, substantially as described.

5. In a compressor and binder, the combination of the frame, the stationary standards thereon having longitudinal slots, the vertically-movable compressing mechanism having a pivotal rod in said slotted standards, and comprising a frame with parallel shoeplates, an axle connecting them, drums on said axle, and means forseparately rotating the drums, substantially as described.

6. In a compressor and hinder, the combination of the frame, the stationary standards thereon having longitudinal slots terminating at the upper end in notches, the movable arms pivoted on-t-he sides of the main frame,

20 and the vertically-movable compressing JOHN I. ASHBAUGH. WVitnesses GEO. W. PICKELS, M10. 13. OHENAULT. 

